Top 4 Strangest Pest Mating Rituals

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the National Pest Management Association
shares the most bizarre mating habits in the insect world

February 11, 2015 09:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time

FAIRFAX, Va.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The most romantic day of the year is almost here! What passes for love
in the wacky world of insects, however, can be downright creepy and even
fatal to some species. In honor of Valentine’s Day, the National
Pest Management Association (NPMA) explores the top four weirdest
methods insects use to woo a mate.

“While human romance is typically associated with flowers or chocolate,
insects have some much more peculiar ways of expressing their
adoration”

“While human romance is typically associated with flowers or chocolate,
insects have some much more peculiar ways of expressing their
adoration,” said Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for
the NPMA. “Unfortunately for people, some of these pest mating rituals
can even put their own loved ones at risk.”

Fire ants, termites, kissing bugs and earwigs all make the list of the
strangest mating rituals in the insect world.

Fire Ants: The fire ant queen can live for up to seven years.
Male ants, called drones, aren’t so fortunate. Their only role in the
colony is to mate with the queen and they die soon after doing so.

Termites: Female termites release “mating pheromones” that act
as a perfume to entice male termites. Once the males locate the female
termites, they will break off their wings, symbolizing that they are a
couple.

Kissing Bugs: Despite their name, there’s nothing romantic
about these bugs! They not only bite the faces and lips of sleeping
humans, but also frequently defecate on or near the bite wound,
allowing the parasite that spreads potentially fatal Chagas disease to
enter the bloodstream. This blood meal is necessary for male kissing
bugs to mate and for female kissing bugs to lay eggs.

Earwigs: Once coupled with a female, male earwigs use their
long cerci, which look like pincers, on their backsides to attach
themselves to the female. Undisturbed, the earwigs often stay in this
mating position for hours.

The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 7,000 members, was
established in 1933 to support the pest management industry's commitment
to the protection of public health, food and property. For more
information, visit PestWorld.org.